Control means for chain shifting change-speed gears for cycles



Jan. 29, 1952 J. P. SOUHART 2,583,609 CONTROL MEANS FOR CHAIN SHIFTING CHANGE-SPEED GEARS FOR CYCLES Filed Feb. 25, 1948 2 SHEETSSHEET l 3 4 .5 3 J 74 LL J2 wmmnumlwgmml 5 6 F 72 72 21 0 J9 312 9 Z? I 25 26 12 11%| 1%] I INVENTUR Jflcevuar 8901 500/749,?!"

Jan. 29, 1952 SOUHART 2,583,609

CONTROL MEANS FOR CHAIN SHIF'TING V CHANGE-SPEED GEARS FOR CYCLES Filed Feb. 25, 1948 2 SI-IEET$-SHEET 2 INVENTUR 7043 0;; 99% saws 7 Patented Jan. 29, 1952 CONTROL MEANS F OR CHAIN SHIFTING CHAN GE-SPEED GEARS FOR CYCLES Jacques Paul Souhart, Pa

Les Brevets Souhart society of France Application February 25 In France Sep ris, France, assignor to S. A., Paris, France, a

1948, Serial No. 10,628 tember 6, 1943 6 Claims. (01. 74-489) The present invention relates to control means for chain shifting change speed devices and analogous systems for bicycles, motorcycles and similar vehicles.

Bicycles fitted with change speed devices generally include a control lever mounted on one tube of the frame within reach of the cyclists hand and adapted to be brought into various desired positions.

This arrangement has the drawback of compelling the cyclist, in order to perform the speed changing operation, to remove his hand from the handle-bar, which may be somewhat inconvenient when, for instance, at the bottom of a hill, the cyclist finds he cannot keep the gear ratio presently in operation. This drawbackis still more serious in the caseof bicycles having a driving device operated by means of an oscillating handle-bar or the like.

The device according to the present invention, which obviates these drawbacks, includes in combination with the handle bar of a cycle, in particular a bicycle, a grooved pulley for operating the chain shifter cable pivoted on a spindle which is mounted at the free end of theshandle bar tube, said pulley being rigid with an operating handle mounted in line with said end of the handle bar tube, in order thus to enable the cyclist to operate his change speed device without having to leave the handle bar, thus avoiding any loss of effort.

Preferred embodiments of this invention will be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, given merely by way of example and in which: 7

Fig. 1 is a general side elevationalviewof the device;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line II--II of Fig. 1

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section in a plane at right angles to the section plane of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line IV--IV of Fig. 3; l

Fig. 5 is a modification of Fig. 4; t

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a handle-bar onwhich the device of Figs l to 3 has been fitted;

Fig. 7 is a lateral elevational View of another embodiment of the device accordingto the invention ready to be fitted on the end of the handle-bar of a bicycle; i

Fig. 8 is a View similar to Fig. 7, certain elements being removed or partly shown in section;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the device of ever be the kind of bicycle he is riding, which.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 6, in one of the branches l of the handle-bar 2 of a bicycle is engaged a plug piece 3 adapted to be kept in fixed position with respect to this handle-bar by means of a locking wedge 4 the opening of which is controlled, in a known manner, by a. nut .5 mounted on a screw 6, having for instance aslotted head 1.

Plug 3 preferably includes, as shown in Fig. l, a portion 8 of a diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the handle-bar tube I, the second or end portion 9 preferably having a diameter equal to the outer-diameter of the handlebar branch in such manner as to be flush with the outer surface of this branch in the assembled position shown in Fig. 6.

In the portion of large diameter 9 of the mass is provided a mortise II! in which is engaged pulley ll, which carries the chain shifter control cable l2, said pulley being pivoted on a spindle l3 passing through end portion 9, and this pulley is rigid with a contro1 lever M.

The chain shifter control cable, fixed on pulley H in the usual manner, passes through a channel l5 of piece 3 (Fig. 3), to connect with the chain shifter (not shown on the drawing). Cable I2 passes either inside the tubes of the frame (not shown), or outside the handle-bar 2 through a suitable orifice provided for instance at [6 (Fig.6).

Piece 3 might furtherinclude a second channel l1 indicated in dash-and-dot lines in Fig. 3 for use when the chain shifter requires it.

Of course, instead of providing in piece '3 a hole or channel such as l5 (Fig. 4), I might provide in said piece one or several notches such as l8 (Fig. 5), for the cable or cables I 2.

The inward edge of the piece 3 then acts as an abutment for the end of the sheath I9 which surrounds cable l2 and passes to the outside of the handle bar through hole I6. Of course, I may, if so desired, cause sheath l9 to bear upon the handle-bar around hole It.

Owing to the above described arrangement, when the chain shifter is operated by lowering lever H, the cyclist can do this without modifying the position of his hand on the branch I of the handle bar, by merely moving down his wristto act on lever M. The cyclist thu keeps the possibility of supplying his maximum effort whatenables him, in particular when climbing a hill, to

change gear without slowing down or reducing his .efiort ever so little.

The device may of course be mounted either on the left hand branch or on the right hand branch of the handle-bar according to the preference of the cyclist.

Instead of mounting pulley l l in a piece, fixed in the end of the branch of the handle-bar as shown in Fig. 6, the axis of articulation l3 of said pulley might be engaged directly in the end of the handle-bar, the guiding of the pulley l I being obtained either through side elements fixed housed on the end of the handle-bar, or through a suitable shaping of said hand of the handlebar which might then include two flat faces, for instance vertical ones, acting as guiding side members.

The device can be made in any suitable material, have any suitable shape, lever 14 being eventually movable, either in the vertical direction, or in a horizontal or inclined direction.

In the embodiment of Figs. '7 to 9, plug 3, in-

tended to engage in the end of the handle-bar, (not shown), of a bicycle (the inward engagement of said plug being limited by shoulder H) which comes to bear against the outer edge of the handle-bar) carries, on the outward side thereof, a fork-shaped element 20 in which is mounted a spindle 2| on which is journalled the pulley or wheel 22 in which is provided the groove 23 which receives the cable l2 for controlling the chain shifter (not shown).

- Wheel 22 includes a journal 24 on which is pivoted an arm 25 which can thus oscillate freely and is shaped to form, a lateral guide member for said cable. In this arm 25 is slidably fitted a rod 26 provided with a collar 21 on which acts a thrust spring 28 for engaging the end portion 29, acting as a bolt, of rod 26 into notches 30 provided in the periphery of wheel 22.

A head 3|, of spherical or other shape, is fixed to the outer end of rod 26 to facilitate its operation.

This arrangement permits of modifying at will the relation of pulley 22 with respect to the lever 26 for operating this pulley. Before performing the gear changing operation, the cyclist can thus prepare this operation by preliminarily bringing the end portion or bolt 29 constituted by the end of rod 26 into the notch or recess 30 that corresponds to the gear ratio he wishes to obtain, the operation proper being thus made easier at the time it is to be carried out. It will be readily understood that this arrangement facilitates the cyclists task since he is enabled to prepare the change of gear at the most favorable time, the gear changing operation being then reduced to a practically instantaneous gesture which is made at the desired time without any hindrance for the cyclist.

The operating lever 26 might also be connected with the pulley 22 through a system of gears, preferably with a suitable multiplication, making it possible to obtain a control cable of the chain shifter for a displacement of relatively small amplitude of the lever 26. In this case, lever 26 and wheel 22 might be mounted on different axes. This operation might also be obtained by providing on a disc rigid with rod 26, a helical inclined surface acting directly on the end of the cable such as l2..

In a general manner, while in cripticn, it has been disclosed what is deemed to be practical and efficient embodiments of this invention, it should be well understood that the same should be limited thereto as there might be changes made in the arrangement, disposition and form of the parts without departing from great displacement of the the above d e-' and present invention as comscope of the accompanying verse to the direction of said handle, a change speed gear control cable connected to said pulley,

and a lever operatively connected with said pulley for manually actuating it, said lever extending on the outside ,of said handle to the rear thereof,

whereby it can be actuated by the cyclists hand without said hand being removed from said handle.

2. In a bicycle and like vehicle, the combination with the handle bar of said vehicle, of a substantially cylindrical, plug piece fitted in the rear end portion of one handle of said handle bar, a pulley journalled in said plug piece about an axis transverse to the direction of said handle, a change speed gear control cable connected to said pulley, and a lever carried by said pulley in fixed radial position with respect thereto for manually actuating it, said lever extending on the outside of said handle to the rear thereof, whereby it can be actuated by the cyclists hand without said hand being removed from said handle, and said lever, in neutral position, being substantially in line with said handle.

3. In a bicycle and like vehicle, the combination with the handle bar of said vehicle, of a substantially cylindrical plug piece insertable in the rear end portion of one handle of said handle bar, an expansible wedge carried by said plug piece for fixation thereof in said handle, a pulley journalled in said plug piece about an axis transverse to the direction of said handle, a change speed gear control cable connected to said pulley, and a lever operatively connected with said pulley for manually actuatin it, said lever extending on the outside of said handle to the rear thereof, whereby it can be actuated by the cyclists hand without said hand being removed from said handle.

4. In a bicycle and like vehicle, the combination with the handle bar of said vehicle, of a substantially cylindrical plug piece fitted in the rear end portion of one handle of said handlebar, a pulley journalled in said plug piece about an axis transverse to the direction of saidhandle, a change speed gear control cable connected to said pulley, a lever pivoted to said pulleyabout. the axis thereof extending on the outside ofsaid handle to the rear thereof, whereby it canbe actuated by the cyclists hand without said hand being removed from said handle, and means for locking said lever with respect to said pulley'i-n any of a plurality of predetermined positions;

5. In a bicycle and like vehicle the combination with the handle bar of said vehicle, of a sub-.-

pulley journalled in said plug piece about anaxis.

transverse to the direction of said handle, a change speed gear control cable'connected to said pulley, said pulley being provided-with a plurality of peripheral notches, a lever pivoted to said: pulley about the axis thereof extending on the; outside of said handle to the rear thereof, whereby it can be actuated by the cyclists hand with- 2 out said hand being removed from said handle, a part slidable in said lever in the radial ection of said pulley and adapted to engage any of said notches and spring means for urging said part toward the periphery of said pulley.

6. Control means for change speed gear mechanism of bicycles and similar vehicles equipped with a handle bar and a cable to operate said gear mechanism; comprisin a. member having means for providing a connection with one end of said handle bar, said member being provided with an axle extending transversely to said end of said handle bar when connected to the latter, a pulley supported by said axle and provided with means for anchoring said cable thereon, and an operating lever for said pulley swingably supported on said axle and adapted to extend rearwardly of said handle bar, said lever extending in radial direction to said axle of said pulley JACQUES PAUL SOUHART.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,260,465 Shakespeare Mar. 26, 1918 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 25,569 France Jan. 13, 1923 395,412 France Feb. 27, 1909 515,463 Great Britain Dec. 5, 1939 

